If you’ve ever felt like your emotions are running the show—outbursts you didn’t mean, shutting down when you wish you could speak up, or going from zero to 100 without knowing why—you're not alone. Many people experience intense emotions that seem to take over. That’s where Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) comes in.

DBT is a powerful, evidence-based therapy designed to help people manage big emotions, improve relationships, and build a life that feels more stable and fulfilling. It was originally created for people with borderline personality disorder, but today it helps folks dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, and more. If you’ve ever said, “I don’t know how to handle this,” DBT might be the missing piece.

At its core, DBT teaches four key skills:

·       Mindfulness – being present without judgment

·       Emotion Regulation – understanding and working with your emotions, not against them

·       Distress Tolerance – getting through tough moments without making them worse

·       Interpersonal Effectiveness – setting boundaries and asking for what you need (without the guilt)

And here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a “perfect” person to benefit from DBT. In fact, DBT assumes two things can be true at once—you can accept yourself and want to change. That’s the “dialectic” part.

In my practice, we break DBT down into manageable, real-life tools. We might use games or hands-on strategies (yes, even with adults!) to help these concepts click. You’ll learn ways to respond to life—not react to it. Many clients say it feels like they finally have a manual for their emotions.

So if you're tired of feeling stuck in patterns that aren't working anymore, or you're curious about how to better manage stress, relationships, or inner chaos—DBT could be a great fit.

Let’s talk about what this could look like for you. I offer free 15-minute consults so we can see if DBT or another approach might be right. You don’t have to figure this out alone.